Beech Tree News Network

Mostly familiar faces along with one newcomer  were successful at the polls yesterday as Butler County voters cast their ballots for several offices.  The May 20 Republican Primary Election resulted in wins for incumbents Judge-Executive David Fields, Sheriff Scottie Ward, and Jailer Terry Fugate.  Suzanne Brosnan defeated former PVA Richard Embry in the race for Property Valuation Administrator.  Incumbent PVA Angie Pendley was not seeking reelection.    

The monthly luncheon of the Morgantown-Butler County Chamber of Commerce was held on Thursday April 24th. The event was slated to begin at noon with the guests engaging in a meal prepared by the Butler County Homemakers and consisting of various items including lasagna, rolls, green beans, and mashed potatoes as well as a variety of sugar free drinks and desserts.  Tiffany Winchel of  Morgantown Care and Rehabilitation Center, was the guest speaker.

Bowling Green, KY – Jason Goodman has been named Financial Services Officer for Farm Credit Mid-America, along with Amanda Shaff who has been named Financial Services Specialist in Bowling Green, KY.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of Butler County for the honor of serving you as Butler County Judge-Executive for the past eight years and to officially announce my candidacy for re-election. 
When seeking elective office a few years ago, I stressed the importance of bringing people together and leadership through consensus building between all the stakeholders in the community.  As Judge-Executive, I have worked hard to bring that type of leadership to county government. 

The Butler County Fiscal Court faced a short agenda for their regular December meeting on Monday, December 9th, 2013. However, the meeting tuned into a 90-minute affair, with some contentious moments between magistrates and visitors. 

Rhonda Vaughn and Tiffany Wilson visited the meeting to present a certificate to the court on behalf of the Butler County Drug Free Community Coalition and the Barren River District Health Department. The certificate recognized the Fiscal Court for their actions earlier this autumn to make the Butler County Courthouse a tobacco-free facility. 

On Saturday, October 26th the Morgantown Square was abuzz with local residents and out-of-town guests, as the Morgantown-Butler County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Harvest on the Square celebration.  According to Chamber Executive Director Robin Schroder, the event was the largest it has ever been, touting more than 60 booths. With city streets blocked on Main Street in between Morgantown City Hall and the Butler County Courthouse, attendees strolled the walkway perusing a wide array of vendors.  The event kicked off at 10 a.m. and wrapped up at 4 p.m.

Ground was broken on Monday, August 5th for another remembrance of Butler County veterans. Joining the Civil War statue and the existing War Memorial will be a Veteran's Wall of Honor on the lawn of the Butler County courthouse.

On Saturday, July 27, a court-ordered sale by the Butler County Sheriff’s Department was held at 12301 Russellville Road, the same location of an early morning shooting on June 24, 2012.  Sheriff Scottie Ward was named by the court as Administrator of the Estate of Justin Boord on October 23, 2012.  

According to Ward, he was court ordered on June 6, 2013, to sell the personal property belonging to Justin "Scott" Boord.   

A verified complaint and the defendants' response mark the latest stage in the ongoing conflict between a former sergeant with the Morgantown Police Department and the city and mayor for whom he worked. That conflict has now entered the legal realm with a lawsuit filed in Butler Circuit Clerk by former MPD Sergeant Andrew Gidcumb against the City of Morgantown and Mayor Linda Keown (individually and as mayor).  

UPDATE 4/22/13: An arrest has been made in year old death investigation.  Police have charged 19-year-old Daniel Hostetler of Metcalfe County with first degree manslaughter in the death of Brandon Crain, whose body was found in the Green River.